Question

I created some simple dll in visual studio, to begin to use it I read the following article:

To use the functionality from the class library in the console
application

1) After you create a new console application, an empty program is
created for you. The name for the source file is the same as the name
that you chose for the project earlier. In this example, it is named
MyExecRefsDll.cpp.

2) To use the math routines that were created in the dynamic link
library, you must reference the library. To do this, select the
MyExecRefsDll project in the Solution Explorer, then select
References… from the Project menu. On the Property Pages dialog box,
expand the Common Properties node, select Framework and References,
and then select the Add New Reference… button. For more information
about the References… dialog box, see Framework and References, Common
Properties, Property Pages Dialog Box.

3) The Add Reference dialog box is displayed. This dialog lists all
the libraries that you can reference. The Project tab lists all the
projects in the current solution and any libraries they contain. On
the Projects tab, select MathFuncsDll. Then click OK.

4) To reference the header files of the dynamic link library, you must
modify the include directories path. To do this, on the Property Pages
dialog box, expand the Configuration Properties node, expand the C/C++
node, and then select General. Next to Additional Include Directories,
type the path of the location of the MathFuncsDll.h header file.

5) The executable does not load dynamic link libraries until runtime.
You must tell the system where to locate MathFuncsDll.dll. You do so
by using the PATH environment variable. To do this, on the Property
Pages dialog box, expand the Configuration Properties node and select
Debugging. Next to Environment, type the following: PATH=, where is
replaced with the actual location of MathFuncsDll.dll. Click OK to
save all the changes.*

I understand why we need to set a location for the header and dll (paragraphs 4 and 5), my question is why we need paragraphs 2 and 3 to reference the library? thanks in advance for any simple explanation

Answer 1

Step 2 and 3 describe steps to help create a managed project, one that uses the .NET framework.
It is calling referencing an assembly, and is equivalent to linking in a library file for native apps.
I take it you are creating a C++/CLI managed application?